More Christ

Episode 160: Brett McCracken - The Surprising Spiritual Role of Sleep and Rest (Why Do Humans Sleep?)

Why did God create human beings to spend roughly a third of their lives asleep? What does sleep reveal about our limitations, our dependence upon God, and the Christian hope of resurrection? And might learning to rest be one of the most important spiritual disciplines in our increasingly restless world?

In this episode of More Christ, I am delighted to welcome back Brett McCracken, senior editor at The Gospel Coalition and author of The Wisdom of Sleep: How Rest Reveals God's Truth and Revives Weary Souls.

Drawing upon Scripture, science, theology, and cultural commentary, Brett invites us to reconsider something we often take for granted. We explore the significance of sleep and Sabbath, the mystery of dreams, the relationship between body and soul, and the ways in which rest can deepen our understanding of God's grace.

We also discuss our culture's obsession with productivity and optimisation, the importance of recognising our creaturely limitations, and what sleep might teach us about death, resurrection, and the life to come.

From Jesus sleeping peacefully in the midst of a storm to the promise of eternal rest in God's presence, this conversation offers a rich Christian perspective on one of the most ordinary, yet extraordinary, aspects of human existence.

ABOUT BRETT McCRACKEN

Brett McCracken is a senior editor at The Gospel Coalition, author, and cultural commentator whose work explores Christianity, culture, technology, wisdom, and the arts. His books include The Wisdom Pyramid, Uncomfortable, and The Wisdom of Sleep. He is also a co-editor of Scrolling Ourselves to Death.

EXPLORE BRETT'S WORK

The Wisdom of Sleep (book):
https://www.brettmccracken.com/books

Buy The Wisdom of Sleep (UK):
https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/christian-health-wellbeing/diet-and-health/the-wisdom-of-sleep/

Official publisher's page:
https://zondervanacademic.com/products/the-wisdom-of-sleep

Brett's website:
https://www.brettmccracken.com/

ABOUT MORE CHRIST

More Christ is a podcast exploring Christian faith, theology, philosophy, literature, history, culture, and the great questions of human existence through conversations with thoughtful voices from across the Christian tradition.

If you enjoy these conversations, please follow More Christ on Spotify, share this episode, and help others discover the podcast.

Is taxation a form of slavery? What does the Bible actually teach about government, freedom and the limits of political power?

In this episode of More Christ, I’m delighted to be joined by Nick Watts, author of Taxation Is Slavery: The Biblical Case for Libertarian Politics, to explore his provocative argument for a Christian understanding of liberty.

At the heart of our conversation is a question: how should our allegiance to Jesus Christ shape our relationship with earthly rulers?

We consider Nick’s case alongside familiar passages such as Romans 13 and Jesus’ instruction to give Caesar what belongs to Caesar. What belongs to Caesar, and what belongs to God?

This is an invitation to think carefully about Scripture, political authority, property rights and our responsibilities towards our neighbours. Whether you agree with Nick’s conclusions or want to challenge them, I hope this conversation encourages you to examine the assumptions we bring to faith and politics.

Taxation Is Slavery: The Biblical Case for Libertarian Politics Book information and purchasing options:

https://www.beingbiblical.com/books/taxation-is-slavery/

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CBFJY9Q

Free book preview:https://beingbiblical.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Taxation-is-Slavery-PDF-eBook-With-Cover-Preview.pdf

Being Biblical - Nick’s website and articles:https://www.beingbiblical.com/

If you enjoy this conversation, please like the video, subscribe to More Christ, and share it with someone interested in Christianity, freedom and political philosophy.

How do you understand the Bible’s teaching on taxation and government? Let me know in the comments.

#MoreChrist #NickWatts #Christianity #Taxation #ChristianLibertarianism

How do we know the Bible can be trusted? What reasons do we have for confidence in the Gospel accounts of Jesus, and how should Christians respond to questions about Scripture’s historical reliability?

For this episode of More Christ, I am joined by Craig Blomberg, Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Denver Seminary and the author of books including The Historical Reliability of the Gospels, Jesus and the Gospels, and Can We Still Believe the Bible? In this conversation, I speak with Craig about the trustworthiness of the Bible and the historical foundations of Christian faith.

At the heart of our conversation is a question that matters both to Christians and to those exploring Christianity: can we trust these writings to tell us who Jesus is?

I hope this conversation encourages you to take honest questions seriously, explore the evidence thoughtfully, and encounter Christ more deeply through Scripture.

Seminary:

https://denverseminary.edu/directory/blomberg-phd-craig/

The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: https://ivpress.com/the-historical-reliability-of-the-gospels

Can We Still Believe the Bible? An Evangelical Engagement with Contemporary Questions:

https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/9781587433214_can-we-still-believe-the-bible

Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey, Third Edition: https://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/product/jesus-and-the-gospels-third-edition-2/

The Historical Reliability of John’s Gospel: https://www.ivpress.com/the-historical-reliability-of-john-s-gospel

Free lectures on The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: https://www.biblicaltraining.org/learn/institute/nt610-the-historical-reliability-of-the-gospels

If you enjoy this conversation, please like the video, subscribe to More Christ, and share it with someone who might find it helpful. I’d also love to hear your thoughts in the comments: what questions about the Bible’s reliability would you most like to explore?

#CraigBlomberg #MoreChrist #Bible #Christianity #Apologetics

Why did Jesus descend into hell? What does His ascension mean for us today? And how does His incarnation shape our understanding of God and our own humanity?

In this episode of More Christ, I’m delighted to be joined by theologian, pastor, and author Gerrit Dawson to explore Christ’s incarnation, descent into hell, and ascension to heaven.

Together, we consider these great mysteries of the Christian faith and their significance for our salvation, worship, and daily life. What does it mean that the Son of God truly shares our humanity? How should we understand the Apostles’ Creed’s declaration that “He descended into hell”? And why does it matter that our risen and ascended Lord remains human?

At the heart of our conversation is Jesus Christ Himself: the Son who became flesh, entered the depths of death, and ascended to the Father. I hope this conversation helps you see more clearly the hope and glory of what He has accomplished for us.

EXPLORE GERRIT’S WORK

Books published by Bloomsbury:
https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/author/gerrit-dawson/

His wider book list on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/165496.Gerrit_Scott_Dawson

YOU’RE INCLUDED - GRACE COMMUNION INTERNATIONAL

Explore the interview series:
https://www.gci.org/videos/youre-included/

Gerrit Dawson - Jesus Is Still a Human:
https://learn.gcs.edu/mod/page/view.php?id=4336

Gerrit Dawson - The Eternal Incarnation:
https://learn.gcs.edu/mod/page/view.php?id=4338

Subscribe to More Christ for more conversations exploring Christian faith, theology, and the true, the good, and the beautiful.

#MoreChrist #GerritDawson #JesusChrist #Incarnation #Ascension #ChristianTheology

What if poetry and imagination help us see the world more truthfully?In this episode of More Christ, I’m joined by the delightful Dr Valentin Gerlier, a scholar, musician and author of Shakespeare and the Grace of Words. We explore the relationship between language, beauty, faith and the imagination, and ask how literature can awaken us to the depth and wonder of God’s creation.Valentin’s work brings Shakespeare into conversation with Christian theology and invites us to attend more carefully to the words we use and the world we inhabit. I hope this conversation encourages you to look again at what is true, good and beautiful.Valentin’s book: https://www.routledge.com/Shakespeare-and-the-Grace-of-Words-Language-Theology-Metaphysics/Gerlier/p/book/9781032121413If you enjoy the conversation, please subscribe to More Christ and share it with someone who might appreciate it.

In this conversation, I speak with theologian, missionary and author Howard A. Snyder about the radical vision of John Wesley and what it might mean for the Church today.

We explore Wesley as more than the respectable founder of a denomination. His movement brought people into small, disciplined communities where they could grow in holiness, care for one another and participate actively in God’s mission.

Howard explains why genuine Christian community requires more than attending a weekly service, how the early Methodist societies and class meetings helped ordinary people become disciples, and why the Church must recover its identity as a visible community of the Kingdom of God.

We also discuss creation care and Howard’s conviction that salvation is not simply about rescuing human souls from the earth. In Christ, God is reconciling and healing the whole creation - people, communities and the land itself.

Howard A. Snyder is a former Professor of the History and Theology of Mission at Asbury Theological Seminary and Professor of Wesley Studies at Tyndale Seminary. His many books include The Radical Wesley, The Community of the King, The Problem of Wineskins, Salvation Means Creation Healed and, most recently, Consider the Lilies: How Jesus Saves People and the Land.

RESOURCES

Read Consider the Lilies free through Asbury Theological Seminary:
https://place.asburyseminary.edu/academicbooks/53/

The Radical Wesley: The Patterns and Practices of a Movement Maker:
https://my.seedbed.com/product/the-radical-wesley-by-howard-snyder/

Salvation Means Creation Healed:
https://wipfandstock.com/9781608998883/salvation-means-creation-healed/

Howard Snyder’s articles at Seedbed:
https://seedbed.com/author/howardsnyder/

Howard’s profile and selected publications at the Manchester Wesley Research Centre:
https://www.mwrc.ac.uk/howard-snyder

If you enjoy the conversation, please like the video, subscribe to the channel and share it with someone interested in Wesley, Christian community or the renewal of creation.

#JohnWesley #Methodism #HowardSnyder #CreationCare #ChristianCommunity #Wesleyan #ChurchRenewal

The Global Methodist Church is one of the fastest-growing movements in contemporary Christianity. But where did it come from, what does it believe, and why are so many churches and Christians joining it?

In this conversation, I sit down with Ryan Barnett to explore the remarkable story behind the Global Methodist Church, its commitment to Scriptural holiness, and its vision for making disciples in the twenty-first century.

We discuss:

• The origins of the Global Methodist Church
• Why thousands of churches have joined the movement
• John Wesley's vision of Scriptural holiness
• Evangelism, discipleship, and church planting
• What faithful Methodist renewal looks like today
• Challenges and opportunities for the future of global Methodism

Whether you're a Methodist, interested in church history, or simply passionate about Christian renewal, I hope this conversation encourages you.

Find out more about the Global Methodist Church:
https://www.globalmethodist.org/

Learn more about Ryan Barnett:
https://truettseminary.baylor.edu/person/ryan-barnett

If you enjoyed this conversation, please consider:
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Will Beauty Save the World? Can beauty lead us to God? Has the modern Church forgotten the formative power of art, architecture, music, story, and worship? And what might an ancient-future vision of Christianity offer a culture hungry for meaning?

In this episode of More Christ, I sit down with Dr Winfield Bevins - theologian, author, artist, and founder of Creo Arts - to explore the relationship between beauty, truth, goodness, and the Christian life.

Drawing on his latest book, How Beauty Will Save the World, Winfield argues that beauty is not an optional extra but an essential part of Christian witness. Together we discuss the role of the arts in evangelism and discipleship, recovering historic liturgy and ancient-future worship, the vocation of Christian artists, C.S. Lewis, the imagination, and why beauty still has the power to awaken people to God.

I hope this conversation encourages you to see beauty not simply as decoration, but as something that points beyond itself to Christ.

Find Winfield Bevins:

Website:

https://winfieldbevins.com

Books: https://winfieldbevins.com/books

Creo Arts:

https://creoarts.org

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/winfieldbevins

Recommended books:

How Beauty Will Save the World

Liturgical Mission

Ever Ancient, Ever New

Simply Anglican

Marks of a Movement

If you enjoyed this conversation, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with someone who might find it helpful. It really helps More Christ reach more people.

Thank you for watching and listening.

#MoreChrist #WinfieldBevins #Beauty #ChristianArt #Theology #AncientFuture #Liturgy #Worship #FaithAndCulture #ChristianPodcast #CSLewis

John Moriarty remains one of Ireland's most original and thought-provoking voices. Poet, philosopher, storyteller and mystic, his work brings together Christianity, Celtic tradition, mythology, literature and the natural world in a way that continues to inspire readers across the world.

In this conversation, I am joined by Amanda Carmody, John's niece and Chairperson of the John Moriarty Institute for Ecology and Spirituality. We explore who John Moriarty was, why his work matters today, and where to begin if you're new to his writing.

Resources

John Moriarty Institute
https://www.johnmoriarty.ie/

John Moriarty Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/152718876973182

John Moriarty books (Lilliput Press)
https://www.lilliputpress.ie/collections/john-moriarty

John Moriarty: Grounded in Story (edited by Amanda Carmody & Mary McGillicuddy)
https://www.lilliputpress.ie/products/john-moriarty-grounded-in-story

John Moriarty books on Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=John+Moriarty+books

If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who would appreciate discovering the work of John Moriarty.

I spoke recently with Paul Vander Klay and Heather Pollington, exploring some of the themes that will be at the heart of our upcoming gathering in Kildare: Christian art, the role of nature in the Christian life, the saints, pilgrimage, imagination, beauty, and the recovery of a sacramental vision of the world.

We discuss how Christians can engage the natural world without idolising it, why the saints still matter today, and how art, story, and place can help awaken us to the presence of God.

If these themes resonate with you, we'd love to have you join us in Kildare on Saturday 27th June for Finding God in Nature and Culture.

Tickets:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/finding-god-in-nature-and-culture-tickets-1988447493982

The gathering will feature talks, music, storytelling, prayer, and pilgrimage, with contributions from Paul Vander Klay, Heather Pollington, Fr. Conor McDonough, and others.

More Christ exists to help people encounter the true, the good, and the beautiful in Jesus Christ.

#MoreChrist #PaulVanderKlay #HeatherPollington #ChristianArt #Christianity #FaithAndCulture #Pilgrimage #StBrigid #Kildare #NatureAndCulture #Ireland #Beauty #Imagination #JesusChrist